Most stories about Carson Palmer start with his couch. How he came off of it to play for the Raiders in the middle of last season. Coach Dennis Allen, in a recent comment, added the image of a retired Palmer eating potato chips on that couch.

It's surprising no one has asked Palmer what kind of couch it is. (Brown leather, from Pottery Barn.)

The fact is, Palmer wasn't really retired, or semiretired for that matter. He was one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL before knee surgery in 2006 - guys like that don't retire at the age of 32.

Palmer didn't want to play for the Bengals anymore. The eight-year marriage had turned ugly, but in this case the bitter, regretful and, yes, disappointed spouse owned his rights. So Palmer took a seat.

No, not on the couch, on the stationary bike where he stayed in shape waiting for the call.

Most stories about Carson Palmer move from the couch to the interceptions. He had 16 in 10 games with the Raiders. Has the former USC gunslinger lost his fastball, the Heisman Trophy he won in 2002 now merely a reminder of his stiffness?

No. The reality is three of those interceptions were bogus, and should probably be credited instead to Hue Jackson. The since-departed coach was so desperate to win that after orchestrating the trade of two draft picks for Palmer, he threw his new quarterback in for the first time against the Chiefs on Oct. 23 cold.

Colder than a penguin sipping a milkshake.

Palmer was not supposed to play at all that day - his first five days with the Raiders, he didn't get to half of the playbook or watch a single play on film of the Chiefs. But Kyle Boller threw three interceptions, and Jackson panicked, and Palmer entered in the third quarter and made it a Pick-Six losing ticket.

"That first week was such a blur, I still have no idea how I felt or feel about it," Palmer said. "Excited, overwhelmed, surprised ... disappointed. Those aren't even the right words. It was crazy."

Take away his first three interceptions, and Palmer finishes with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions - off his couch, mind you - and no one is talking about how he's on the spot to prove himself this season.

Instead, we would be looking at his last eight starts and saying that Jackson and the Raiders made a nice trade. Over that span, Palmer was second in the NFL in passing plays of more than 25 yards (tied), fourth in yards per attempt, fifth in passing yards, seventh in completion percentage, ninth in completions and 12th in touchdown passes.

Al Saunders, the offensive coordinator last season and a senior offensive assistant this season, thinks Palmer doesn't get enough credit for the job he did last year and expects the quarterback to be back in the "elite" conversation this season.

"Carson is very motivated, he is very determined, and he is very capable," Saunders said. "You put those things together and you're looking at a special, special year.

"It's been a long time since this football team has won, and I really believe that Carson feels he can be the leader to do that."

Unlike last season, Palmer has had an offseason program, organized team workouts and time to digest offensive coordinator's Greg Knapp's new offense. He's gotten in good shape, worked on his footwork to throw on the run more this year and even spent time with baseball pitching coach Tom House to work on his throwing mechanics.

"There are very few better to put the ball in (receivers') hands at the proper times in the proper way than Carson," Saunders said. "And if you look at the people that surround him, and the speed and talent that we have, this should be an explosive offense.

"Nobody in the league can match up with us, especially if we take advantage of the route-running and pass-catching of (running backs) Darren McFadden and Marcel Reece."

Palmer threw four interceptions in the first three games this preseason, but everyone knows that teams and experienced quarterbacks shouldn't be judged by how they do in August. Just because the fans pay full price for preseason games, that doesn't make them real.

"You don't want to just throw the whole entire playbook on film," Palmer said. "So, I know we're doing that, I know just about every team in the NFL is doing that. So there's still some things we've got to continue to work on and some things that we're really excited to do that haven't been seen."

Palmer hasn't seen receivers Denarius Moore or Jacoby Ford for a while, as they have both missed practically the whole preseason with hamstring and foot injuries, respectively.

"We need a ton of work together," Palmer said. "You can never get enough work with a guy. Even if he's played every rep and you've played every rep, you always need those reps.

"When they're back, it's not easy to get off the couch or get out of a walking boot or off crutches or whatever it may be and just show up and play. This league is way too good. These players are too good, these schemes are too good just to jump back in and go."

Moore and Ford could be back by the season opener Sept. 10, and while Palmer has worked hard to develop chemistry with Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey, he acknowledges that he and Moore clicked last season.

"No question," said Palmer, who threw three passes of 25 yards or more, including two touchdowns, to the then-rookie in San Diego on Nov. 10. "When Denarius was healthy - we lost him for a couple games last year - but when he was healthy, he and I had really figured out a rhythm and timing, and figured each other out."

Allen saw that Chargers game, and he was there in person - as the Broncos' defensive coordinator - when Palmer threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns (one a 40-yard frozen rope to Reece) on Nov. 6.

"This is a quarterback-driven league," Allen said. "For you to sustain success in this league you've got to have a good one, and I think we do. So yeah, I think that gives you a lot of confidence."